Love Stories

Chapter Nineteen

Bethan was a nice girl. Her father was a lord. The family was one of few who weren't related to the crown. Royalty couldn't marry themselves, could they?

                        It came to everyone as a surprise. Of course, they had known each other all their lives, but never had they been more than a prince who knew she existed or a daughter of a lord who knew he existed. They weren't in the gossip at all, no one suspected a thing. And suddenly there was a wedding on the horizon.

                        At least it wasn't a bad surprise. Once the shocked expressions wore off, people were only full of congratulations and excitement. Years of disappointment were finally going to be wiped away. Celebrations were expected in Runderin, a prince's wedding was an occasion of much to do. They had begun to lose hope that he would ever have one. Brun was the only one married so far and people would have chosen him for the likeliest to never wed. Prospects were bleak.

                        But here, here was another marriage finally. Arlette would have done everything to prepare it, but Bethan was a woman who knew her own mind. Arlette's opinions were not necessary. Aisley had the time of her life because of it. Someone finally told her little sister no. It was revolutionary. It was earth-shattering. It freed the soul. Aisley was not below histrionics.

                        Although Leah had mixed feelings about the wedding, she had known Bethan before and so there was no way she could form a new dislike for her all of a sudden. She could marry whom she pleased, as the prince could. There was no reason to drag her personal thoughts into it. They were sweet. They were nice. They were just a little perfect. She could face the tiny bit of pain and move on. Someday it might be the same for her. But no, she reminded herself. Never. So it really didn't matter.

                        The only other Runderinian wedding Leah had been to was Brun's and Dalussa's. It was very, very different from an Elloran wedding. The chief characters in an Elloran wedding were the bride and groom. That seemed natural. In Runderin, however, they were practically the least important part. The country was founded on myths and stories that of course required storytellers. Although some were men, most were women. The practice had continued, changing form as the years went on. They were their own class of people now. It was almost as strong as a religion. Men or women who had nothing could always join a sanctuary and become a storyteller. They were also the ones who performed official ceromonies. Weddings, crownings, funerals. They were part of life and all had originated somewhere. It was the storyteller's job to give meaning to a mundane ritual. They were the source of knowledge and books, education.

                        This was only the second time she heard it so she paid attention to catch things she had missed before as the storyteller related the first wedding in the world. The bride and groom didn't avoid her gaze, however. They faced each other, a small and special table between them made of stone. It was fixed at the front of the sanctuary and Leah understood it was this way in every sanctuary. This one, of course, was elaborate. It was the capital's, the place kings were crowned, princes married. Like now.

                        Bethan was beautiful. Her hair was yellow like Leah's, but duller and shorter. Her eyes were dark brown. The dress she wore was whiter than a lone cloud in a blue sky and accented with plenty of gold. She would be a princess now. Her father hadn't lacked anything to give her except that official title. Here she got it, as soon as the storyteller completed her tale. There was a cup of wine on the table. With a few words, the prince drank some and handed it to his bride. The same words were repeated before she took a sip. Then the storyteller let a few drops run onto the stone, and in the eyes of everyone they were married. Very sacredly, very solemnly. It was something that could never be broken. And Leah wondered why that broke a piece of her heart.